It was a rare occasion when we needed someone to watch our three legged Doodle while we were out of…read moretown for an extended weekend. We had never used a kennel before, and were a little apprehensive due to our lack of experience. However, my daughter was very familiar with Sundance and highly recommended it. So, we decided to give it a try. I reached out and got a quick response. After confirming the dates I was looking for, they were clear in their communication with rates, what was needed (up to date Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella vaccines) and what was available (food, walks, playtime and medical administering). Dogs have their own "runs" with indoor and outdoor spaces and comforts from home are welcome (your own food, treats and toys). Morning and late afternoon hours are available for drop offs, which is very convenient. We added 3 walks a day and 3 playtime sessions. The outdoor time really helped our tripod acclimate to her new surroundings, even though she was a bit timid at first. The staff was very understanding of our initial concerns, and very reassuring. They took good care of her, making sure to keep an eye out and give us up dates. If you've never used a kennel before, Sundance is a great place to start. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, well kept grounds and immaculate kennels. I'm happy we found a kennel we can trust!

Lola our Terrier/ Chi. only knew shelters when we adopted her, while she had warmed up to a few…read moredogs & neighbors she was still very scared and anxious. We had our sons out of town wedding to attend to and NEEDED boarding for Lola. Stacey and the staff were so caring and kind to Our Lola! I love the in & out kennel set up for each dog so they can get sun & fresh air on their time/ terms during the day. We thought extra cuddle time would be impossible but Stacey proved us wrong & connected with Lola! truly amazing!! We already booked another boarding date For Lola! Thank You Sundance Kennels!! Kelly McCormack

Sarah is amazing! She's has helped me with training two of my pups now. She's very knowledgeable…read moreand patient. My pups love when she rings our doorbell. I highly recommend Brainy K and Sarah.

Sarah is amazing!!! We adopted our 3 year old Wire Haired Pointing Griffon, Duke, this year. We…read morequickly found out he is reactive and has separation anxiety. Sarah worked tirelessly with us to help Duke. Not only did she give us great lessons at our home, we also went on walks and to dog parks. In addition, we had daily text checkins to make sure we were on the right track and to get further advice as we progressed. Now Duke has multiple dogs friends and is much more calm when being left alone. She truly cares about your animals and wants to see them succeed. She is dedicated and passionate. We are so grateful to have worked with her!!

I've used this wonderful kennel from 1989 to 2019, for all three of my dogs…read more Can't say enough wonderful things about the care and attention given to my three dogs. Spotless, caring and a healthy environment is what you will experience.

I have trained 4 greyhounds(soon to be fifth) with Frank. Each dog had a different personality and…read moredisposition and Frank was able to access each dog and make recommendations to help me communicate with each dog. I learned that to train the dog, you have to "train" the owner. Wouldn't rain anywhere else or board anywhere else.

Wow great work on my 2 year old poodle she was so crazy before i took her to you guys, jumping on…read morepeople and pulling on the leash but now she is well calm and listen very well. Again great work

From the owner: I been in the dog business for my 5 years and every dog I meet I love to create a relationship with…read morethem

My dog has been going to Shel-Ray Pet Shalet for almost 4 years!…read more She is a nervous cattle dog! She comes home happy and content I love their daily reports upon urine stools and eating! They also give a behavior report which I find helpful ! They take the out for potty etc She stays in the VIP suite! I pay for a package deal of play time nature walk and pamper time! My dog loves her outdoor activities ! Both Saras are so nice ! I check in everyday when I'm away . I recommend Heather O as a groomer! She works at the pets pace ! It's like a vacation away for Nadia when I'm away! She also stayed their during a serious surgery time and it helped keep me from stressing about Nadia's care also ! Thank you for always being there!

I've used this service 4-5 times to board my parakeets when I travel. I decided not to return,…read morenot because my pets are not well taken care of, but because each time, especially the last few visits, I've gotten such an unfriendly vibe. No smiles, Almost no eye contact, No customer appreciation comments or thank you, no friendly verbal report card, but rather a basic, SIGN HERE. I honestly cannot remember if it is just a particular employee, but I definitely walked away more that once feeling like I was not viewed as a valued customer.

The first sign for a great dog facility is when your pups are happy to go in!…read moreWe board there and have playtime. Our dogs are so happy to get in there. They come back smelling fresh and never stressed out. Shag Bark posts walks and playtimes each day on Facebook. So comforting when you are away and can see that everyone is happy ! Professional and knowledgeable staff. This business is safe and treats your little ones like their own! You will not be disappointed!

I left my pets here expecting great care per reviews but was very disappointed…read more I received a call that my one pet would not put weight on his hind leg the night before I was to pick them up. It was the same the next morning, so I took him to emergency care since my vet didn't have any open appointments. I noticed he had several burrs, the painful kind in his tail and fur. The vet found burrs in his ears and after Knocking him out and X-rays we were told nothing was wrong that they could see except a little swelling in his hindquarters. The next day he was back to running around his yard and gas been the same since. My vet bill was astronomical, and no-one has called to see how he is. And I paid extra for walks where ge picked up these burrs.

I am so impressed and happy with the dog training we did with Maggie from Suburban K9. She…read moreunderstood exactly the issues and what we were trying to accomplish. Maggie can read the dog's temperaments and adapt accordingly to the dog. We have owned many dogs over the years, and would highly recommend Suburban K9 and especially Maggie if you need help with any dog behaviors.

Excellent experience! Outstanding customer service! Valuable information and instruction provided!read more

Extraordinarily professional and clearly knowledgeable, the owner, Montana, will make each client…read morefeel as though they are receiving the individual guidance they need even in a group class. Like many people during Covid-19, we finally found ourselves with the opportunity to adopt a dog from a local rescue, after several months of deliberation. Per the recommendation of the rescue, we signed up for a group class and quickly realized our 4yo/58lb/ Pointer Mix wasn't ready for a group setting due to her anxiety around other dogs. After I sent a long-winded e-mail unsure about what to do, I received a prompt call from Montana, who calmly addressed our concerns and offered to do a house call. We live in the Albany Park neighborhood of Chicago, and the Big Sky classes were being held in Winnetka, 30 minutes away. Without batting an eyelash, Montana was in our home the following day, arriving 15 minutes early and ready to hear our worries and concerns. My boyfriend and I felt relieved to hear her perspective and observations, and couldn't believe how fortunate we had been to have her as our trainer. As a note: The reason we were so impressed was due to her accessibility and a clear dedication to doing what is best for the dog. We had signed up for her 6-week Dog Obedience Basics (only 6 dogs per group, masks required) in Winnetka for approx. $180, and she charged us "only for gas" for the 1-hour house call. Prior to meeting her for 1 class, we had no relationship with her or experience with many trainers as several of the "premier" places in Chicago were booked. We were essentially strangers to her, and yet we felt like we received personal, premium care and service. Montana has set the bar high for our Dog Trainer expectations. If you're looking for a knowledgeable, compassionate, and dedicated professional, there's no reason not to call Big Sky Dog Training first. If you need more convincing, just remember that whatever you decide, in Montana's own words, "the needs of the dog comes first."

Our in home session went amazing. I am already seeing a difference in my dogs behavior! Also the…read moreassurance that I can reach out to Montana with any questions gives me the confidence to keep up with the work and training as I go along.

I have bred and shown a sporting breed for over 35 years. I have always loved German Shepherds and…read morewanted to do performance work with them. The time is finally right for me to make the commitment to a GSD. Thus, I researched German Shepherd breeders in the Wisconsin area for months and really wasn't finding the "right" one until I found Clayton Warichak's website. I called him to find out more about his dogs and his breeding program. (basically to interview him a little!) I wanted to meet his dogs and see for myself what they were like before deciding if they were right for me. He invited me out to a training he offers every other weekend. (all at no cost). All of the dogs are his breeding and range in age from puppies to adult dogs providing a good age range, enabling me to see structure, temperament, and development along a broad timeline. This also provided me with an opportunity to meet and talk to the many owners, who had a mix of interests in what they were doing with their dogs. I learned of a breeding he was planning and would have puppies born in about three months. After meeting him, his wife, his son, the dogs, and all of the owners of the dogs I knew this was the breeder and line of dogs that I wanted. We agreed that I would get a first pick male puppy from that breeding. He said that because I came out and met him and the dogs he appreciated my sincere interest and would like to work with me also. I was most impressed because not only was I interviewing him, but he was interviewing me. This showed me he was sincerely careful of where his puppies went and who they went with. This is a quality of a truly outstanding breeder. As the time grew closer to the birth of the litter, Clayton kept in regular contact with me, even sending me pictures of the mother's ultrasound showing how many pups there were. The day the pups were born, Clayton called me many times during the course of the day as each puppy was born. (Clayton whelps his litters himself). My gratefulness and excitement was beyond words. It only confirmed that I had made the right decision. Several weeks later I went to his house to pick out my puppy. Being new to the breed I wanted his evaluation and guidance. We critically evaluated all six males carefully. After 35 plus years of breeding GSDs I value and trust Clayton's opinion completely. Several weeks later I went to pick up my puppy (Pan). I was provided with a Litter Certificate, showing Pan's pedigree, a written hip and health guarantee, and a bag containing toys, a collar, and a leash. Clayton also provides the entire regiment of puppy shots over the coming months at no cost. Pan is the most wonderful little guy, full of personality and playfulness. He absolutely loves and plays with my three grandchildren. He learns fast knowing basic commands and is only just 3 months old. He is friendly to everyone including my 12.5 year old sporting dog. Pan represents the carefully planned breedings that Clayton does. Clayton studies pedigrees and carefully plans every breeding. He provided me with pedigrees and pictures of Pan's breeding before Pan was born at my request. His dogs are thoughtfully and carefully bred with enormous knowledge. These dogs can fill a variety of interests from living in family homes to working as police-k9 or in search and rescue, along with agility, conformation, and also Schutzhund (IGP). Clayton is always there to help guide me and answer all of my questions. He returns my phone calls timely. He is a person of extremely high integrity. He has been awarded The Best Dog Breeder in Jefferson County 3 times. If you are looking for a GSD with good health, high trainability, intelligence, and temperament, look no further. If you are looking for a breeder who is caring, honest, and ethical along with having extensive experience in confirmation and Shutzhund events, look no further. There is something truly special about Clayton, his dogs, and the Stadtrand Family that he has created with his dogs. Clayton's dogs are the entire package. You won't go wrong choosing this breeder.

You won't find a more responsible, ethical or knowledgeable breeder of GSDs. Incredible experience…read morefrom minute one through the selection of our puppy and getting her home. We're confident in the breeding and temperament of our puppy. And we know that if we run into any challenges or questions, we can contact Clayton for help any time. We know our puppy was bred and raised right from the first minute. She is a great addition to our family. Delightful to train from the second we got her home. Highly recommend the ongoing training club at Rome Pond Park held all through the summers too - an amazing time of fun and socialization for all dogs.

Lisa is an awesome trainer! Her positive reinforcement approach totally changed my approach to dog…read moretraining. I have a rescue, who is very timid and lacks confidence. Lisa showed me how I could build confidence and obedience. I cannot recommend this group more highly!

From the owner: We Specialize in Private Lessons Tailored to your specific needs…read more Over 20 years experience Fear Free Dog Training Techniques We also offer small group classes ensuring you get lots of individual attention